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Polytechnique (2009)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve 

Starring: Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Extended Sequences of Realistic and Disturbing Violence) 

Running Time: 1 h 17 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Some Acting, Cinematography, Pacing, Structure, Relevance

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Respect for Victims 

Polytechnique (2009)

December 15, 2020

A dramatization of the Montreal Massacre of 1989.

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In Action, Drama, Crime, Horror, Thriller, Biographical Tags Denis Villeneuve, Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu, 2009, NR
1 Comment
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Maniac (1980)

Directed by: William Lustig

Starring: Joe Spinell, Tom Savini, Caroline Munro, Abigail Clayton

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 27 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Practical Effects, Atmosphere, Joe Spinell

WEAKNESSES: It’s Pretty F*cked Up

Maniac (1980)

October 16, 2020

A psychotic man struggles with his impulse to kill and scalp women. 

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In Crime, Exploitation, Horror, Slasher, Thriller Tags William Lustig, Joe Spinell, Tom Savini, Caroline Munro, Abigail Clayton, R, 3.5 Stars
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Maniac (2012)

Directed by: Franck Khalfoun

Starring: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Americo Olivo

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Violence and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 29 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Practical Effects

WEAKNESSES: Cinematography, Nothing New

Maniac (2012)

October 16, 2020

A man struggles to suppress his desire to kill.

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In Crime, Horror, Slasher, Thriller Tags Franck Khalfoun, Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Americo Olivo, NR
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Hagazussa (2017)

Directed by: Lukas Feigelfeld

Starring: Aleksandra Cwen, Celina Peter, Claudia Martini, Tanja Petrovsky

Rated: NR (Suggest R for Disturbing Violent Content)

Running Time: 1 h 42 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Cinematography, Story, Sound Design

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Small Target Audience

Hagazussa (2017)

October 5, 2020

A woman living in isolation faces judgement and persecution from a group of nearby villagers, who believe the woman to be a witch. 

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Foreign Film, Horror, Historical, Mystery, Thriller Tags Aleksandra Cwen, Celina Peter, Claudia Martini, Tanja Petrovsky, Lukas Feigelfeld, 2017, 4.5 Stars
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Audition (1999)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura

Rated: R for Violence/Torture and Sexuality

Running Time: 1 h 55 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Practical Effects, Atmosphere

WEAKNESSES: Perspective of Dream Sequences

Audition (1999)

October 2, 2020

A widower takes an opportunity to screen girls at an audition arranged for him by a friend to find a new wife, only the girl whom the widower chooses to date is not at all who she seems. 

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Foreign Film, Horror Tags 1999, 4 Stars, Takashi Miike, Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, R
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Titus (1999)

Directed by: Julie Taymor

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Matthew Rhys

Rated: R for Strong Violent and Sexual Images

Running Time: 2 h 42 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Matthew Rhys

Titus (1999)

March 13, 2020

Titus returns from war victorious, only to offend enemies that will cause him greater turmoil. 

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In Adventure, Action, Crime, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, War, Thriller Tags Julie Taymor, Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Matthew Rhys
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Come to Daddy (2019)

Directed by: Ant Timpson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie, Martin Donovan, Michael Smiley, Ona Grauer 

Rated: R for Strong Violence, Language Throughout, Sexual Content and Graphic Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 36 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unpredictable, Tonal Shifts, Acting, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Some Pacing in First Half of Second Act

Come to Daddy (2019)

March 9, 2020

A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to connect with the father he never knew.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Thriller Tags Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie, Martin Donovan, Michael Smiley, Ona Grauer, Ant Timpson, 4 Stars, R
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Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

Directed by: Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Sung-Jae Lee, Doona Bae, Ho-Jung Kim, Hee-Bong Byun

Rated: NR (Suggested R)

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unique Premise, Direction

WEAKNESSES: Unlikeable Characters, Pacing

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

March 6, 2020

A part-time college professor finds himself annoyed by a perpetually yapping dog and decides to take action.

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In Crime, Foreign Film, Comedy Tags Bong Joon Ho, Sung-Jae Lee, Doona Bae, Ho-Jung Kim, Hee-Bong Byun, NR, 3 Stars
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Mother (2009)

Directed by: Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Hey-Ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin

Rated: R for Language, Some Sexual Content, Violence and Drug Use

Running Time: 2 h 9 m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Story, Characters, Twists

WEAKNESSES: -

Mother (2009)

March 5, 2020

A mother desperately searches for a killer so that she can free her mentally-handicapped son, who has been accused of murder.

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Foreign Film, Thriller Tags Bong Joon Ho, Hey-Ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin
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The Contender (2000)

Directed by: Rod Lurie

Starring: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliot, William Petersen, Philip Bakker Hall, Robin Thomas

Rated: R for Strong Sexual Content and Language

Running Time: 2 h 6 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Directing, Themes, Relevance

WEAKNESSES: Slightly Heavy-Handed

The Contender (2000)

March 2, 2020

The Vice President is dead and the President seeks to place Senator Laine Hanson in the open spot. Meanwhile, Senator Shelly Runyon opposes the nomination, and seeks to make his own moves. 

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In Crime, Drama, Political, Thriller Tags Rod Lurie, Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliot, William Petersen, Philip Bakker Hall, Robin Thomas, 4.5 Stars, 2000
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The Invisible Man (2020)

Directed by: Leigh Whannell

Starring: Elizabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Storm Reid

Rated: R for Some Strong Bloody Violence, and Language

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Some Great Scenes, Acting, Some Themes, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Lots of Tiny Plot Holes, Uneven Quality 

The Invisible Man (2020)

February 28, 2020

After Cecilia’s abusive ex Adrian takes his own life and leaves her a fortune, she begins to experience strange phenomena and suspects Adrian might be behind it.

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Slasher, Thriller Tags Leigh Whannell, Elizabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Storm Reid, R, 3.5 Stars
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Wild at Heart (1990)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton, Dianne Ladd, Jack Nance, Sherilyn Fenn

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Story, Weirdness, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Lynch-lite, Somewhat Silly at Times

Wild at Heart (1990)

February 27, 2020

Young lovers Sailor and Lula go on the run after Lula’s mother tries to keep them apart by any means necessary.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Coming of Age, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton, Dianne Ladd, Jack Nance, Sherilyn Fenn, David Lynch, 1990, 3.5 Stars, R
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Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, David Bowie, Heather Graham, David Lynch, Peggy Lipton, Kyle Maclachan

Rated: R for Strong Violence, Sex, and Drug Content, and for Language

Running Time: 2 h 14 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Good Companion Piece to Frist Two Seasons of Twin Peaks

WEAKNESSES: No Reason to Watch Unless You’ve Seen Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

February 25, 2020

As FBI agents investigate strange murders that might be connected, Laura Palmer goes about her daily routine, unaware that tragedy will soon befall her.

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In Coming of Age, Crime, Drama, Art House Tags David Lynch, Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, David Bowie, Heather Graham, Peggy Lipton, 3 Stars, R, Kyle MacLachlan
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Inland Empire (2006)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Karolina Gruszka, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Terry Crews, Nastassja Kinski, Laura Harring, Naomi Watts

Rated: R for Language, Some Violence and Sexuality/Nudity

Running Time: 3 h

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Surreal Sequences, Unusual Acting

WEAKNESSES: Length

Inland Empire (2006)

February 24, 2020

An actress is cast to play the lead in a reputedly cursed script, and as she sets out to make the film, she finds it difficult to separate the film from reality, and reality from her dreams.

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Epic, Art House, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Thriller Tags Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Karolina Gruszka, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Terry Crews, Nastassja Kinski, Laura Harring, Naomi Watts, David Lynch
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Clemency (2019)

Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 52m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Themes, Atmosphere

Weakness: None

Clemency (2019)

February 21, 2020

Bernadine, a Warden at a death row penitentiary, finds herself searching her mind and heart for meaning as she prepares for another condemned man’s final sentence.

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In Crime, Drama Tags Michael McDonald, Clemency, 2019, R Rated, 4 Stars, Chinonye Chukwu, Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce
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Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

Directed by: Shun’ya Ito

Starring: Meiko Kaji, Fumio Wantanabe, Yukie Kagawa, FUdeko Tanaka

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Violence and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Direction, Story, Action, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Sleazy/ Exploitative (?)

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

February 18, 2020

The second entry in the Female Prisoner Scorpion series. After being locked in solitary confinement for a year, Matsu the Scorpion escapes with a van full of prisoners and flees across a surreal landscape. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Mystery, Exploitation, Thriller Tags Meiko Kaji, Fumio Wantanabe, Yukie Kagawa, FUdeko Tanaka, Shun'ya Ito, 1972, NR, 4 Stars
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Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)

Directed by: Shun’ya Ito

Starring: Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Yayoi Watanabe, Natsuyagi Isao

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Graphic Violence and Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 27 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Story, Fun, Influence

WEAKNESSES: Sleazy/ Exploitative (?)

Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)

February 17, 2020

After being betrayed by detective she had fallen in love with, a young woman is sent to a prison full of violent prisoners and guards. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Foreign Film, Exploitation, Thriller Tags Shun’ya Ito, Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Yayoi Watanabe, Natsuyagi Isao, 4 Stars
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Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

Directed by: Pedro Almodovar

Starring: Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles Leon

Rated: NC-17 for a Scene of Strong Adult Sensuality and Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 41 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Characters, Humor, Mis-En-Scene

WEAKNESSES: Almodovar-lite

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

February 10, 2020

A former mental patient takes a former porn star prisoner in an attempt to convince her to marry him.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama, Foreign Film, Romance, Thriller Tags Pedro Almodóvar, Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles Leon, NC-17, 4 Stars, 1989
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U Turn (1997)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler

Rated: R for Strong Violence, Sexuality and Language

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Some Acting

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Directing, Editing

U Turn (1997)

February 5, 2020

A man heading to Vegas to pay off his gambling debt is waylaid in a strange Arizona town where everything goes wrong.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Oliver Stone, R, 2.5 Stars
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Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

Directed by: Edward Norton

Starring: Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann

Rated: R for Language Throughout Including Some Sexual References, Brief Drug Use, and Violence

Running Time: 2 h 24 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Story, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Length, Pacing

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

February 5, 2020

A private detective with Tourette’s syndrome in 1950s New York tries to solve the murder of his mentor and friend. 

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Noir, Romance Tags Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann, 2019, 3.5 Stars
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